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16th Apr 2017

Combined Manchester United and Chelsea XI shows what a bad job Jose Mourinho is doing

More United players, no apologies

Conan Doherty

A win for United would leave them just 15 points behind Chelsea.

With a game in hand.

Don’t say they’re out of it just yet.

Listen, Jose Mourinho has already won a cup. They could well go on to win the Europa League and that wouldn’t just have them with another trophy, but it would secure a Champions League spot for next season.

The manager will probably go out in the summer and spend a fortune on the three or four players he thinks he needs and they will compete next year for honours. Maybe. But you have to ask sometimes, what is the bloody point?

United have one of the best teams in the Premier League but all their Portuguese master can do is ensure they don’t lose. The United Way.

In fact, the resources already at Mourinho’s disposal are so grand that they have more players that would get on a combined team with Chelsea than the soon-to-be champions would get on that same team.

That’s the difference between the jobs Mourinho and Conte are doing right now.

David De Gea: Next.

Antonio Valencia: So good, so strong, so fast in defence and attack. One of the most underrated defenders around. One position United really don’t need another player in.

Eric Bailly: One of Mourinho’s finds. A gem of a player.

David Luiz: All his doubters have quickly disappeared.

Marcos Alonso: A top quality footballer – composed, clever, wildly energetic.

N’Golo Kante: He’s so good at recovering the ball that his attacking instincts are rarely given the credit they deserve.

Ander Herrera: He’d be in line for player of the season if United weren’t so shit. He should ask Scott Parker what the trick is.

Paul Pogba: Needs a serious, serious shake but he’s still obviously a great player. Has been very important for United’s breaks around the middle third but isn’t racking up the stats to keep people from talking about his price.

Eden Hazard: He’s just f**king brilliant.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Timeless.

Diego Costa: Could play for any team in the world. One of the best centre forwards about.